First night away from baby!

[Ggg1234]

Hi all,

Just looking for some reassurance or advice...I’ll be spending my first night (and day actually) apart from my baby who will be just over seven months old when it comes around. It is my best friend’s hen do and I wouldn’t miss it for the world but I still feel really anxious about it. My parents will be babysitting as husband is working and I just have this sense of guilt like he shouldn’t be someone else’s responsibility, particularly when he wakes up still in the night for feed(s) and resettling. Parents are obviously happy to do it as they don’t get much of him due to living far away but I worry about one of them having to be up in the night with him. He is formula fed and we have the prep machine but use flasks in the night to make up bottles as needed instead. I considered buying some ready made formula just to make their lives a bit easier but we use mamia and I’m reluctant to swap to another brand just for one night! Has anyone else had a similar experience and how did you find that first night apart? Or how did the babysitter find having to wake in the night? I will actually be staying at the house after the hen but obviously can’t be responsible for baby after drinking all day so I don’t know if this is making me feel more guilty!!

@Ggg1234 The first time you leave them is always the most nerve wracking! Your parents will be fine, they sound like they are really looking forward to it and spending time with grandchild is worth the sacrifice of a full nights sleep. I was nervous so we actually had a practice run a couple of weeks before. I didn’t want to spend my night out worrying about the baby and waiting for a phone call. It really helped. Enjoy the hen do, you’ve earned a night out 😊

First time is always the most worrying! You’ll constantly check your phone and text asking if he’s ok, but that’s normal!
Agree with pp maybe a practise run would be good so you feel more comfortable and enjoy yourself.
I wouldn’t change to pre made for the sake of staying out, take the prep machine with him so everything is ‘normal’ for him.
Grandparents will absolutely love it!
Enjoy your night out!

Thanks both, can’t do a practice run unfortunately just because of things here and there and distance but I will hopefully have to use the Prosecco to make me relax and put the phone away on the day maybe haha! I know other mums who really make the most of these opportunities and do not think twice about agreeing to them but in all honesty I’m one of these who is prepared to say bye to nights out and major plans at least for the next couple of years but there’s events like this I really can’t miss and it makes me feel worse!! I’m hoping it might be the first night he decides to sleep through anyway!!

Have a practice night in? Invite your parents for a takeaway and a sleepover. And let them do the night feeds and settling so you know they can do it or you can give them tips if necessary. And you can get a long lie too- Result!!

Just seen your update. To be honest if they don’t see your baby that often I’m not sure I’d be all that reassured that baby will settle for them overnight. Could they come a day or two earlier to stay and get to know him and him them?

I really would recommend a practise run OP, even if it's just for a few hours. Also why would you need to change brand of formula?

We formed a support bubble with them since I had him despite being about a 100 mile distance away and so I’ve spent a number of weeks at a time here and there at their house since he’s been born so I know he’s comfortable with them, particularly my mum. We’re also having a week away together next week in this country so he will get that prolonged time with them. It is really just the idea of my mum or dad having to get up in the night with him as I know in the day he will be fine. Maybe I can trial a night out during our staycation like you’ve suggested lol

Sorry I don’t know if this was clear in my first post. I use aldi formula with our prep machine or with flasks at night but I was trying to think of the easiest option to prepare bottles for my parents who aren’t used to it so was thinking of buying the ready made aptamil or whatever as Aldi don’t do their own. My little boy is so impatient in the night so even the prep machine takes too long sometimes hence why we moved to doing it old school at night as I can do it a lot quicker! Maybe I’m just overthinking everything

When you go away next week, go to the pub with your husband one evening. Or if he's not coming then go to the shops on your own for a few hours. That's your practice run.

You know, your parents would have got up during the night when you were a baby, they know the score. They wouldn't have agreed if they weren't OK with it.
Try to relax and have a good time

I hated leaving ours for the 1st time, the age I left each for the time got later and later lol.

Just go and enjoy yourself, the grandparents will cope fine. Have a light drinking night or stop drinking earlier than you usually would if you want to be more hands on the next day.

Really appreciate everyone’s support and advice thank you, test run sounds a good idea next week and yes may wind it down on the drinking as the day goes on as don’t know how I’ll be the day after, after so long of not drinking so much!!

Definitely enjoy the chance to have a practice run on your little holiday away!